Has your sink started to gurgle, or is there a bit too much water on the floor when you have a shower? If so, you may have a leak or blocked pipes. We’ll give you some tips on what to do in both cases.
Damage to pipes can be costly to repair, both in terms of time and money. That is why checking the condition of your pipes is one of the most important things you can do as the owner of a home or a building with its own pipework. Here, we provide an introduction to how you can identify any problems as early as possible, and what you need to do to resolve them.
SIGNS OF PROBLEMS WITH THE PIPES
There are several things you can look out for that reveal the true condition of the pipes behind walls, under floors or in ceilings. Ideally, you’d have an Aquastop (a sensor that alerts you with a beep and a light when a leak is detected – commonly used under the kitchen sink) installed everywhere and along all pipes, but we don’t quite have that technology yet. For the time being, we have to detect the problems by the old-fashioned way by seeing, listening, feeling and smelling.
In some cases, the local authority will contact you to inform you that a leak or blockage has been detected in your pipes connected to the municipal mains network, and you will be required to rectify the problem. In other cases, you will need to detect leaks or unblock pipes yourself.
CLOGGED PIPES
If a pipe has become blocked, you’ll usually realise this when you notice something different from the norm. For example, does the water start to drain abnormally slowly down the drain when you’re having a shower or washing your hands? Has there been an unusual or unpleasant smell in the house for no obvious reason? Are there gurgling noises coming from the traps? If so, it’s important to check the condition of the pipes; hopefully, this will help you avoid a potentially devastating flood.
Read more: How to unblock pipes
The best thing you can do if you suspect your pipes are blocked is to contact professionals. Plumbo and other drain unblockers can, in the worst case, do more harm than good if they are not used correctly or at the wrong time. Let the professionals assess whether a drain unblocker will suffice, or whether it is necessary to flush the pipes in a gentle and effective manner.
LEAK
Leaks in the pipes in your own home are often detected when you hear a constant hissing sound even though none of your water pipes are in use. In other words, the pipes should be quiet when they are not in use. You may also suddenly notice water coming up from the floor or the ground, or water dripping from the ceiling and damp on the walls.
If you suspect you have a leak, the first thing you must do is locate the main valve and turn off the water supply. Also take photographs of any water damage, as your insurance company will usually ask for these. Try to prevent further water damage by removing moisture wherever possible. It will then be up to your insurance company to arrange for assistance to repair any damage that may have been caused by the leak.
To prevent further leaks, it may be It’s worth considering pipe replacement. If there has been a leak even once, this suggests that the condition of the pipes could be better and that, unfortunately, the likelihood of further leaks is quite high.
GET PROFESSIONAL HELP
VITEK offers expert advice whether you’re having problems with blocked pipes or need to replace existing pipes. Please feel free to contact us for a friendly chat, whether it’s about preventing injury or getting help once an accident has already happened.